Public Funding for Abortion

For forty years, politicians have used the Hyde Amendment to withhold Medicaid coverage for abortion from eligible women.

Medicaid coverage can mean the difference between getting abortion care and being denied. The Hyde Amendment forces many women to divert money meant for living expenses — like food, rent, utilities and bills — to pay for an abortion. It makes it less possible for a low-income woman to access her health care options and exercise her constitutionally protected right to an abortion.

The federal ban is not permanent law. Every year, Congress has the chance to lift the Hyde Amendment or Congress could support the Each Woman Act to provide equal access to abortion care coverage.

Despite the federal ban in 17 states qualified women can used Medicaid to cover the cost of an abortion.

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

Under court order to include coverage for abortion in state Medicaid program

See Right to Choose v. Byrne, 450 A.2d 925 (N.J. 1982).

New Mexico

Under court order to include coverage for abortion in state Medicaid program

See New Mexico Right to Choose/NARAL v. Johnson, 975 P.2d 841 (N.M. 1998).

New York

Voluntarily covers abortion in state Medicaid program

Through its Medicaid program, New York funds medically necessary abortions for women whose family incomes are below 100% of the federal poverty level but denies abortion funding to women with family incomes between 100 and 185% of the poverty level. These women are eligible, however, to receive all other pregnancy-related services. See Hope v. Perales, 634 N.E.2d 183 (N.Y. 1994).

North Carolina

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

North Dakota

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Ohio

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Oklahoma

Withholds state Medicaid coverage for abortion

Oregon

Under court order to include coverage for abortion in state Medicaid program